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INSTRUCTIONS 



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FAMILY 



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ETTING UP AND RUNNING 



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FOR MAKING THE DIFFERENT ARTICLES THEREON. 

these machines and their products were invented by 

Dana Bickford, and are thoroughly covered 

by numerous letters patent. 



MANUFACTURED BY THE 



CHAPIN MACHINE CO. 

OFFICE AND SALESROOM, 

572 AND 574 BROADWAY, 
NEW TORK. 



HARTFORD : 

Case, Lockwood & Brainard, Printers. 

1871. 



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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by 

DANA BICKFORD, 
In the Oflftce of the Librarian of Congi-ess, at Washington. 



dti 10 - i''J^. 



mTEODIJOTIOK". 



I present you this book to explain to you my position, and give 
you the confidence in my business and machine that every one should 
have before recommending a thing to their friends ; and if you will 
look it through carefully, you will sec what claim I have upon your 
confidence and patronage. In investigating the Knitting Machine 
business some over three years ago, I came to the conclusion 
that this branch of improvements had been left out entirely, and that 
it was my business to make a good labor-saving machine ; and since 
that I have struggled through all manner of difficulties and disap- 
pointments, but have been determined all the while to succeed in pre- 
senting every household with one of the most useful and complete 
pieces of mechanism in the world ; something that would enable the 
weary housewife to have a few hours of rest and recreation, as well 
as the matrons and young ladies of leisure and fashion to have a never 
failing fountain of pleasure as well as solid enjoyment. And feeling 
that no lady would object to spend her leisure moments in construct- 
ing something beautiful as well as useful, if she had a neat, handy 
article to do it on ; and knowing that articles entirely improvised 
and completed by some dear friend are more highly prized than the 
most expensive articles made by others, I have kept pushing on 
until I have brought my machine to that perfection that the public 
demand before they are willing to spend their own money and re- 
commend their friends to do so. Since I commenced some others 
have attempted, by infringing upon my improvements, to put some- 
thing they call Knitters, into competition with me ; but parties will 
not have to hesitate which to buy, for there is no attempt that will 
do one-fourth what mine will do. All improvements, excepting 



INTRODUCTION. 



the bare construction of a straight tube, belong to me, and are 
covered by numerous Letters Patents, etc. And finally, in my first 
machine I could make only a straight tubular web, and that had to be 
cut into work. 

The Machine that I now present you is complete in everj- part, 
and far excels all others, and with our improved advantages for man- 
ufacturing, no family could invest two hundred dollars in any busi- 
ness or bank that would pay them as much interest as this machine 
would, costing only thirty dollars ; and they could not procure for 
any money the amount of pleasure and enjoyment that one would 
give them. 

If this machine is compared with others, it will be found to excel 
in every point. 

It is much more simple in the construction of all its parts and 
movements. 

It is not liable to get out of order either by transportation, use, or 
standing. 

It is made as well as skill and perfect tools and machinery can 
make it. 

It far excels in quietness of operation and ease of working. 

It requires far less skill to operate it than any other. 

It will not break the thread or drop the stitches if in proper order. 

The needle was invented entirely for this machine, and is patented 
by myself, and no other party has any right to use it. 

It is adapted to all kinds of plain as well as fancy knitting, and in 
fact it will knit anything or everything that the most ingenious 
lady can knit or crochet, from a watch cord to a bed or carriage 
blanket. (Sec circular.) 

It has no tension, therefore it does not wear or tear the yarn to 
pieces ; it can be raveled and knit over fifty times if necessary. 



DANA BICKFORD. 



TO r.A.DIES 



Now, Ladies, we want your assistance in convincing the general 
public that no household outfit is complete without one of Dana 
Bickford's Improved Family Knitters, and as a matter of 
economy, no family can for a day afford to be without one. Of 
course you will all feel it a pleasure to aid me, even free from charge, as 
you would in the advancement of any other great improvement; but 
still I will give one of my latest Machines, finished in the best manner, 
to the one that aids me the most in each four months ; and to the next, 
a beautiful (child's) carriage blanket made upon the machine. I 
shall keep your accounts fully and separately, and the articles will 
be given according to that account. 




A — Thumb-screw to fasten machine to table. 
B — Yam-stand. 
C — Pins for Bobbins. 

D — Yam-carrier, etc.. Sliding ring to which Camer is attached. 
E — Machine Handle. 
F — Buckle. 
G — Weights. 
K — Kevolving Cylinders. 
L — Needle Cylinders. 
V — Ring Clasp. 

WW — Cam and Screw for changing length of stitch. 
I — Indicator, to show distance moved. 
XX — Swing-cams and their thumb screws. 
PP — Pins for knitting flat web. 
R — Take-up. 
M — Set-up. 
N — Looper. 



BEWWm^ WW TEE 



Take the Machine carefully from the box, and screw it finnly to a 
table or stand ; screw in the Yarn-stand B, and tuni the machine 
slowly until you are satisfied that everytliing is right and ready for 
work. 




Bonmx. 

WINDING THE BOBBIN. 

The winding a smooth, easy-running Bobbin, is one of the most 
essential and important things to be learned, and the directions must 
be followed closely if you wish everything to go right, and prove sat- 
isfactory. Begin at the base and wind in the form of a cone (see 
cut) ; be sure and not allow one course to bind in another, but let 
them run up and down the cone smoothly, (as on cut H,) so the 
yarn will run off the top without clinging or causing tension. Coarse 
yarn should be wound close, but fine and soft twisted yarns or wors- 
teds should be wound loosclv, but smooth. 




^^-^. 



It would be a good plan before you set your work up on the ma- 
chine, to open the clasp V and take out the needles, being sure to 



BICKFORD FAMILY 



notice particularly where they belong. After you have taken them 
all out, lift off the revolving cylinder K and examine the cams to see 
what forms the stitch and governs its length ; you will see that there 
are three cams, W and XX (see cut,) with thumb set-screws WXX 
attached ; cam W slides directly up and down, and draws down the 
needles to form the stitch, after they have been driven up by the piv- 
oted or swing cams XX. These swing cams can be one up and one 
down, or both up or down ; if they are both doAvn the machine will 
not knit, and it is a good plan to put them both down while you are 
setting up your work, or if you leave the machine with the work on, 
as it cannot be run off if turned by accident or any other cause. You 
will see that the needle has to be driven up by XX as in cut, the ar- 
row showing which cam is up and which Avay the machine turns to 
free the latch from the loops and catch the yarn before it is drawn 
down by W to form a new stitch ; consequently, in knitting either 
way, the swing cam X must be up, forward of the draw down cam 
W, (see cut.) You must have them both up in knitting a flat web 
or heel ; it is best, however, when you are knitting a circular web, to 
have the back or hind swing cam X (see cut) down, then the latch 
is not freed from the stitch until it is ready to be drawn down ; this 
prevents the latch flying up and dropping stitches. 

CHANGING THE LENGTH OF STITCH. 

To change the length of stitch so as to make tight or loose work, 
the cam W at the side that forms the stitch, must be moved up for 
shortening and down for lengthening. This is done by first loosen- 
ing the cam screw W, and raising or depressing the cam. The indi- 
cator I at the top of the screw, shows the distance moved. In using 
very coarse yarn, or if you wish for an open or long stitch, your in- 
dicator or cam must be down ; and in using the finest yarn or mak- 
ing a very close stitch, yonr indicator must be up or nearly np to the 
top ; so, in having different sizes of yarn, you must adjust the cam 
W to the particular yarn you are knitting. 

If the yarn runs loose over the needles without making a perfect 
stitch, the cam screw W is loose, or the stitch is too short for the yarn 
used, requiring the cam W to be depressed ; always be sure to tighten 
the cam-screw after moving it before starting the machine. The 
tighter or firmer your work, the more weight will be required to keep 
the loops down to the cylinder, so that the needles can pass up through 
them to form the next stitch. If the stitches cling to the needles as 
they are driven up to catch the yarn at the carrier D, you can see at 



KNITTINQ MACHINE. 



once they will not knit, as the needle has to pass up through to bring 
the latch of the needle above the loop, so that, in drawing down 
after it has caught the yarn, it can close the latch over the hook and 
allow the loop to pass over the end to form the next row of stitches. 
You can use one, two, or three threads, being sure that the length of 
the stitch is sufficient to prevent the work from being too close. It 
is better to practice on some plain work until you understand the 
machine thoroughly, for if these rules are not followed the work will 
not prove satisfactory. 




TO SET UP THE WORK. 

Bring the Carrier D to the left hand side of the machine ; place 
the bobbins upon the pins C, and put the yam through the eye 
of Yam-stand B, directly over the bobbin from which you wish to 
knit ; put the yarn through the upper eye of carrier D, bringing the 
end inside the cylinder ; put the Set-up in the centre of the machine, 
bringing the hooks even with the top of the cylinder, thread the yam 
upward through the eye of the Looper (see cut,) drawing through 
about two yards, or enough to form the loops ; use the left hand to 
hold the set-up in place, and the right to form the loops. This is 
done by bringing the Looper on the right side of Carrier D, then 
putting the yarn over a hook of the Set-up, and then up round a 
needle from right to left, which twists the yarn around the needle, 
and forms a loop ; then ronnd another hook and up round the next 
needle as before ; continue looping the yarn round the hooks and 
needles until you have all above the cylinders filled ; now attach the 
weight-hook to the end of the Set-up, and suspend your weights from 
it (see cut;) now turn your machine slowly to the right to bring up 



lO BICKFORD FAMILY 

the remainin<]j needles, and fill these also with stitches ; drop the 
looper and end of yarn in the centre of Set np, and turn the handle 
slowly until every stitch is perfect, and you have adjusted your cam 
W to the size of yarn used, and length of stitch required. This forms 
a selvedge edge at the top of your work — the shorter your loops the 
closer your selvedge. Or you can start with a piece of knit-work by 
passing it up through the cylinder, and putting a loop over each 
needle, or as many as is necessary ; put on your buckle F, and weights 
G (see cut,) and thread the carrier as described above; then proceed 
to knit. 

TAKING OUT NEEDLES. 

To take out the needles, first open the clasp V, then lift them out 
of the open space ; if you wish to take out one or two when the work 
is on, put the loops on the adjoining needles. 

SEAMING. 

To make two and one seamed work, take out every third needle. 
To make three and one seamed work, take out every fourth needle. 
To make four and one seamed work, take out every fifth needle. 

KNITTING A STOCKING OR SOCK. 

To knit a stocking or sock, commence as directed for new work, 
knitting the length required for the leg. If you wish it seamed at 
the top, take out every third or fourth needle, knitting about three 
inches, more or less, in length, then return them to their place 
again, taking the under part of the adjoining stitch and putting 
it over the needle which was just put in, to form a new stitch. 
Then knit on three or four inches plain. The stitch may be made 
loose over the calf of the leg, and gradually tightened to the ankle, 
shaping it nicely ; or it may be narrowed down to the size desired by 
taking out needles. This is done by first taking out on eexactly in 
front, putting the stitch over the next needle, then knit round six or 
seven times, and take out the tliird needles on both sides of the one 
first taken out ; knit round six or seven times again and take out 
two more ; so continue to knit and take out needles tUl the leg is nar- 
rowed to the size desired ; you are then ready for the heel. For a 
common sock you will usually need to take out thirteen or fifteen 
needles ; the number of times knitting between the needles taken out 
may be determined by the length you wish the leg of the sock to be, 
which is about one hundred times round for a common sock. 



KNITTING MACHINE. 



HEELING A STOCKING OR SOCK. 

In heeling a stocking or sock, you can knit either a square or a round 
heel, — the square heel is knit as follows : After knitting the leg long 
enough, stop your machine with the carrier D on the back side of 
the machine, and pull up one-half of the needles in front, (see cut 
of machine,) so they will pass over the cams without knitting, for 
the instep ; now insert the pins found with the extra needles, one on 
each side opposite the fourth needle of those drawn up, and draw 
the yam down through the slot of Stand B, and attach it to the hook 
of the small spiral Take-up R. (See explanation.^ 

The object of the holes in the base of the machine is to insert those 
pins for the purpose of gauging the width of work knit ; for exam- 
ple — in using thirty-three needles for knitting the heel, insert these 
pins far enough beyond the number of needles used, so you can form 
each stitch perfectly on either side of the web. After the carrier 
D strikes the pins, continue turning the machine until the sliding 
ring that the carrier is attached to comes to a full stop. This places 
the carrier opposite the other cam in a position to knit the other way. 
You must be sure and make this change, or it will throw off the 
stitches on the backward course. So continue to knit backward and 
forward until your heel is long enough, being thirty-six times for a 
common sock. Keep the hooks, or buckle F, well up on the web, so 
as to hold the edge down and make a perfect stitch ; now run off the 
heel and close it up ; take up the loose loops on the selvedge of the 
heel on the needles the heel was on, and push those of the instep 
down in place, and proceed to knit the foot the length required, being 
seventy times for a common sock. 

To knit the round heel (which is the quickest and which many like the 
best,) proceed as follows : Stop the machine and put up one-half of the 
needles as before for instep, and place the pins the same as before ; now 
turn the machine as far as you can to the left, reverse and knit back 
to the right, and pull up the tirsrt needle on the left, next to those 
already drawn up ; knit back to the left and pull ap the first needle 
on the right next to those already drawn up ; so continue to knit 
across and pull up needles first on one side and then on the other, 
until you have up one-third of the needles on each side of the heel ; 
this leaves one-third down. Now, having narrowed the heel, com- 
mence and widen out to the same size started from ; to do this, knit 
across once, then push down the last needle raised up ; knit across 
again and push down the last one raised up on the other side ; so 



BICKFORD FAMILY 



continue until your heel needles are all down ; now push down the 
instep needles and proceed to knit the foot. 

TOEING THE STOCKING OR SOCK. 

The toe can be knit in the same manner as the heel ; after it has 
been narrowed and widened, run it off and close the end loops to- 
gether. Or, you can raise up one-half of the needles and narrow 
one-third on each side as before ; now push down the other half and 
narrow in the same manner ; run the whole off and close the open 
loops of the two sides together. Either way is good, but the latter 
preferaMe. 

To knit double heels and toes, use two threads. 

Old heels and toes are quickly and nicely mended by knitting new 
ones on, saving much time and trouble. 

CHILDREN'S SOCKS. 

To knit smaller or children's socks, you can take out every other 
needle, forming a sock about one-half the size of the cylinder, being 
sure to have the stitch as short as possible. For sizes between this 
and larger, you can remove every third, fourth, or fifth needle. To 
knit still smaller ones, you must knit it in a flat web and close to- 
gether on the back. 

TO KNIT FLAT WEB. 

Place the pins on each side four needle spaces beyond the width to 
be knit ; take out the rest of the needles or not as you choose, and 
proceed as in knitting heels. Nearly the full width of the cylin- 
der can be knit. Be careful after you have knit flat web, or after 
the machine has not been used for some time, to see that the carrier 
D is adjusted properly to knit circular work. The carrier D being in 
front of the machine, should be pushed to the right as far as possi- 
ble ; it is then in position to knit without dropping stitches. 

To knit flat webs together first knit one web, and when you com- 
mence the next one, take the first loop of the selvedge of the lower 
right hand corner of the web already knit, and put it over the last 
needle in the row or at the left hand side when the carrier stands to 
the right ; then knit across to the left, and back to the right again ; 
throw over the next loop of the selvedge and continue to knit and 
pass over loops till the web you are knitting is as long as the other. 
To join these to another, pass them both up through the cylinder as 



KNITTINQ MACHINE. 13 

before ; in this manner you can knit strips of any width, or can con- 
nect narrow strips of different colors to form tidies and other fancy 
work. 

SEAMED BACK AND GORED FOOT STOCKINGS. 

To knit a stocking with seamed back and gored foot, knit it open 
on the back with selvedge edge, for ladies' hose (using the fine cylin- 
der) knit as wide as you can about two fingers in length, then narrow 
by taking a stitch from a needle at each side, and placing it over the 
adjoining one, then knit seven courses and narrow as before ; so knit 
and narrow seven or eight times, with seven courses between, or until 
you have narrowed sufficiently ; then knit a finger in length for an- 
kle ; now take one-half of the stitches (one-fourth of them being 
dropped off on each side, or one-fourth of the needles can be drawn up 
as described for heeling in another place,) and knit the top of the foot the 
required length, and narrow the toe in the following manner : Narrow 
by taking a stitch from one needle at each side, and placing it over 
the adjoining one ; knit across four times and narrow as before ; then 
four times again and narrow, then three times and narrow, three 
times again and narrow, then twice and narrow, then narrow 
every time until you have eight or nine stitches left. Take these 
off the machine and draw the yarn through them ; now take up 
the stitches dropped on as many needles (bringing selvedge to- 
gether,) and knit the heel the length wanted, remembering that the 
heel must be as many courses longer than a plain foot as times nar- 
rowed on gore. Then drop off the stitches by breaking the thread, 
and close off ; then take up the selvedge edge of the heel on as many 
needles as courses knit ; now knit across once without narrowing, 
across again and narrow on one side, again and narrow on opposite 
side, then two courses and narrow on both sides ; so on until you 
have narrowed five times with two courses between the narrowing ; 
then continue the same width until the bottom of the foot is as long 
as the top ; narrow the toe as on other half, then close the selvedge 
edges neatly, and you have as good ladies' hose as can be knit. 
Misses' hose can be knit upon a less number of needles 

If you do not want to knit a selvedge back to a sock, make the 
leg plain, drop off one-half of the stitches on the needles ; knit the top 
of the foot as just described, then follow the same directions for the 
heel and bottom of the foot, goring it by narrowing, and closing up 
the selvedge edges neatly. If you want more stitches than your cyl- 



14 BICKFORD FAMILY 

inder contains, you can knit two webs together as described else- 
where, and it will not show at all when it is closed. 

MITTENS. 

Knit the mitten the necessary length, narrow and close the end 
like the toe of a stocking ; then cut crosswise the mitten one-third 
of the stitches for the thumb, allowing two-thirds of these stitches 
for the inside of the hand ; take up the stitches on the upper part (or 
towards the wrist) on as many needles, and knit back and forth till 
long enough to narrow ; then narrow four times, knitting twice be- 
tween ; run oiF and draw the yarn through the remaining stitches, 
close it up, taking up the stitches on the hand part, with the selvedge 
loops on the side of the thumb, thus forming the gore and finishing 
up the thumb. For ladies' or children's mittens, they should be knit 
in a flat web and closed up. In this way you can knit in the gore by 
widening on each side of the selvedge ; when you have widened 
enough stitches for the thumb, drop them off and proceed to knit the 
hand and narrow it off; now take up these stitches that you widened, 
and knit the thumb as before ; close up the mittens, always being 
careful to mate them. 

BALMORAL WORK. - 

To knit balmoral work, select the colored yams to be used, wind 
ing each color on a separate bobbin, using them instead of balls as you 
would in hand knitting, always changing on the same needle, which, 
for convenience, can be in the centre of the back part of the machine : 
then knit the number of times round desired with the first color, 
putting the second color into the carrier, under the hook of the nee- 
dle above mentioned, thus ending and commencing on the same one, 
and place the bobbin of the color just finished in the inside of the 
web, being sure to take this yarn from the carrier. In this way any 
number of colors can be iised, according to the taste of the operator. 

RUCHING OR TUFTED WORK. 

FOR SAMPLES OF WORK SEE FIGURES NOS. 3, 13, 16. 

To knit Euching or Tufted work, we have a number of different 
ways. Set up the work on from three to any number of needles, 
say for example, ten ; knit across, bringing the carrier D to the left 
hand side ; take the yarn from the carrier and loop it over the first 
needle on the left hand side, then over your finger or tufter, (sent for 



KNITTING MACHINE. IS 

the purpose,) then over the next needle and your finger or tufter 
ag:ain, and so continue till your yarn is back to the first needle at the 
right where you begin to knit ; now turn the carrier D round to the 
needles, holding the yarn in the left hand, so that the carrier D in 
passing -will take it, and knit across to bind in the loops ; be sure 
to hold down the finger or tufter that the loops are on, so that the nee- 
dles can pass up through the loops and knit them in. You can put 
your worsted or yarn over each needle two or three times, as you 
wish, or you can knit in diamonds, sqiiares, or monograms of differ- 
ent colors. You can make the loops as long or as short as you please, 
also use as many colors as will suit the taste. 

These strips of Ruching or Tufted work can be used to trim cloaks, 
coats, dresses, or anything that you would use astrachan or fur for ; 
or can be made into muffs, collars, wristers, caps, fringe mittens, 
etc. Carriage robes can be knit or made from these strips of Ruch- 
ing in fancy colors or plain. Also carriage and door mats. 

In knitting this work you can use one thread for the foundation 
and others for the loops if required, or use the one thread for both 
foundation and loops. Strips of tliis tufting with fringe attached to 
the edge of it, makes elegant trimmings for dresses, etc. 

FRINGE. 

In knitting fringe you can use frora two to thirty needles, accord- 
ing to the width of heading desired. Place the needles in the front 
part of the machine ; put the blank (sent with extra needles,) in the 
back part, directly opposite ; start up your work by using a piece of 
knit work as before described, or by looping a thread over each nee- 
dle, tying them together at the bottom ; put your weight hook into 
this to keep it down ; now put your yarn into the lower eye of carrier 
D, and turn your machine to the right ; when you have filled your 
fringe needle, lift the loops off, allowing them to drop down ; con- 
tinue in this way until you have as long a strip as you require. If 
you -wish two or more colors, knit around so many times with one 
color and then put on thQ next color ; so proceed, being particular to 
knit each one a given number of times if you wish it to look nice. 
Tie from two to six of these threads together, being careful to knot 
them close to the heading. If you wish fringe half this length, use 
needles both in front and back of the machine, and cut it in the 
middle. 

A person will easily sec how they can knit the fringe as long or as 



16 BICKFORD FAMILY 

short as they choose. Be very careful to knot it close. You can knit 
fringe in a flat web with fancy stitch for heading. 'After learning to 
knit flat web you will readily see how you can do it. 

CORD. 

In making cord one, two, three, four, or flve needles can be used ; 
one will make a chain, two a square stitch, three a perfectly round 
cord, four a square cord, and five round on one side and flat on the 
other. Put the number of needles required in the back part of the 
machine ; start it up by looping a piece of knit work over the nee- 
dles, hang on the weight-hook, and put the yarn through the lower 
eye of carrier D ; turn the machine to the right with the right hand, 
and hold the yarn in the left hand, drawing it just enough to keep it 
straight between the carrier D and needles, so as to make the last 
stitch the same as the others ; and also to draw the thread close as 
the machine passes round from the last needle to the first. If you 
wish it flat on the back side, you can leave the back loop a little 
longer, or knit directly backward and forward. This will be easily 
understood when you have your machine ready for use. This cord 
can be used for picture or curtain cords, and made of different colors, 
or can be made into mats, etc. You can also knit around elastic and 
other cords, with silk or worsted, or around wire tubing, or any thing 
of the kind. 

SCARFS. 

The plain scarf is knit circular on all the needles, then laid flat 
and finished with fringe or tassels. You can put different colors, as 
well as ornamental stitches, monograms, etc., in the ends, making 
them very pretty. Fancy scarfs can be made of the herring-bone, 
diamond, zig-zag, spiral, or any of the other fancy stitches, and made 
up single or double. 

The spray stitch scarf is knit by putting the stitch over two nee- 
dles instead of one, being careful that the yarn does not cling, and 
thereby form new stitches. This can be finished Avith tassels or 
fringe. 

The shell scarf is knit with two needles in and four out all around 
the machine ; when done, turn wrong side out and finish with tassels. 
This is very pretty for children. 

The scalloped scarf is very pretty knit over all the needles, by 
simply changing the length of stitch, knitting from two to eight or 
more courses on a short stitch, and five, six, or more on the very 
lonsrest. 



KNITTING MACHINE. 17 



You can also knit pretty scarfs with every other needle out, two in 
and two out, three in and three out, or any way suggested by the 
taste of the operator. Mnny of them look nice turned inside out, 
and can be finished with fringe or tassels. 

AFGHANS, BLANKETS, SPREADS, &c. 

Afghans, &c., can be knit in a circular web, then laid flat and 
crotcheted, sewed or knit together, or put together with a cord. They 
can be knit in a flat web plain, or of some fancy stitch, and knit to- 
gether on the machine, Csce directions for flat web. j You can finish 
them with fringe, or narrow down the end of each strip to a point, 
and put on tassels. Bed, and all kinds of blankets and spreads, pi- 
ano and table covers, rugs, etc., are knit in a similar way. 

OPEN WORK. 

To make open work for tidies, etc., lift the stitch from every other 
needle and put it over the next ; do this all the way around, or as 
far as you wish Knit around three or more times, and put them 
over again ; this makes a plain open stitch, and is nice for many 
kinds of work. 

DIAMOND STITCH. 

After knitting plain a few rows to get the work well started, com- 
mence by taking the stitches from every other needle and putting 
them over the next ; then knit around once forming loops on the 
needles from which the stitches were taken ; then knit once more, 
binding the loops in ; now remove the stitches again and knit around 
as before ; continue removing the stitches and knitting as described. 
In this way you can form diamonds, squares, monograms, or any 
letter or figure you wish. 

SPIRAL STITCH. 




Commence as before, by taking the stitches from every other nee- 
dle and putting them over the next ; then knit around once forming 



18 



BICKFORD FAMILY 



loops on the empty needles ; remove these loops to the next needles, 
being sure to put them all the same way ; knit around again and re- 
move the loops as before ; continue to knit and remove loops always 
the same way through your whole web, or a short distance, then knit 
plain, then spiral again; or you can knit four stitches spiral and four 
plain all around the machine, which makes very pretty work for un- 
dersleeves, or anything knit tubular. 

ZIG-ZAG STITCH. 




Commence as before, b^ takmg the stitches fi-om every other nee- 
dle and putting them over the next; knit around once forming loops; 
remove these loops all to the right over the next needles ; knit again 
and remove the loops all to the left ; so continue to knit and remove 
the loops first to the right, then to the left, and so on. This stitch is 
very pretty for cotton tidies, hoods, capes, etc. 

HERRING-BONE STITCH. 




Commence as before, by taking the stitches from every other nee- 
dle and putting them over the next ; knit around once forming loops 
over the empty needles ; remove these loops all to the right over the 
next needles ; knit again and remove the loops as before ; do this 
three or more times to the right, then three or more times to the left, 
and so on. 



KNITTINQ MACHINE. 



19 



You can knit a flat web and form scallops on each edge, the size of 
scallops to be regulated by the number of times knitting and removing 
the loops before reversing them ; four or five times makes a very 
pretty scallop. These scallops can be knit together by joining the 
points of the scallops, or can be fitted to each other so as to be im- 
possible to tell where they are joined. In this way a breakfast cape, 
or shawl, etc., etc., can be knit, having the center all one color and 
the border different. You can finish the edge of these articles with 
these scallojjs or with a fringe, ruching, or a narrow strip knit in 
any of the fancy stitches, and gathered on the edge. You can knit 
blankets, bed or table spreads, and knit them together by machine so 
they Avill not show where they are joined. One strip can be knit 
plain and the next of some fancy stitch, and so on, having each strip 
different. These you can finish with fringe, ruffling, or any other 
ornamental edge. 




PINEAPPLE STITCH. 

Commence as directed before, by taking the stitches from every 
other needle and putting them over the next ; knit around once form- 
ing loops ; then remove the first loop to the right, the next to the 
left, the next to the right, and the next to the left, and so continue 
all the way around the web ; knit again and remove the loops as be- 
fore ; knit again and remove as befoi'e. Now knit and remove the 
first loop to the left, the next to the right, the next to the left, and 
the next to the right, as many times as before ; continue placing 
them three times or more one way, then three or more times the other 
way, being careful that you commence to remove them on the same 
needle every time. 



20 BICKFORD FAMILY 



HONEY-COMB STITCH. 




Commence as before, by taking the stitches from exery other nee- 
dle and putting them over the next ; knit around once forming loops 
on the empty needles ; remove the first loop to the right, the next to 
the left, and so on around the machine ; then knit again and remove 
the first loop to the left, and the next to the right ; continue to knit 
and remove the loops, reversing them every time, being careful to 
commence every time on the same needle. 

HINTS TO BEGINNERS. 

Possibly, even after following the foregoing instructions, the operator 
may find the machine not working as represented, and we would here- 
by assure them that the machine fails to be in working order not 
because it lacks merit, but because of injuries. 

Sometimes, from the above causes, the carrier D may possibly get 
bent either in or out. Should it be bent in too close to the needles 
they will in coming up either press the yarn away from the hooks, 
or allow it to slide down back ; in either case it will drop stitches, 
and the carrier must be sprung out a little. Should it be bent out 
too far, it will carry the yarn so far from the needles as to prevent its 
being caught under the hook, causing the stitches to drop and the 
work to run off, in which case it must be pressed in suflSciently to al- 
low the needles to take the yam and form a new stitch. Should it, in 
running either way, hit the needles on top, the point must be raised 
a trifle. 

Sometimes complaints are made about the machine cutting or 
breaking the yarn. Now this will be found an impossibility if every- 
thing is right. Some of the causes for this are as follows : First, the 
stitch is made so short that the needle will not pass up through it to 



KNITTING MACHINE. 21 

form the next stitch, and so many of these loops are allowed to load 
themselves upon the needles that they cannot be drawn down through 
the groove and must of necessity be cut off. Again, if the bobbin is 
unevenly wound, so as to run badly, or you get it upon one pin and 
the yarn through the eye in the stand B, over the top of some other, 
Csee directions for this,) or your yarn becomes wound round the 
stand, or a knot is so large as not to pass through the eye of the car- 
rier or yam-stand B, or under the hooks of the needles, (still no or- , 
dinary knot will injure the work as it passes inside out of the way.) 
In either or all of these cases of course the yarn must separate and 
injure your work ; but whenever, from any of these causes the yarn 
does bi-eak, you can remove the weights, raise the work up a little 
from underneath with the left hand, being careful not to slip it off the 
needles, find the end of the yarn and ravel it back by pulling it over 
the hook of each needle, causing the underneath stitch to drop back 
over the same needle until you come round to the carrier again. Af- 
ter a little practice one will find they can easily ravel back as far as 
they choose without losing a stitch. 

If the machine should run hard for want of oil, you must first re- 
move the clasp V and drop a little oil from the oiler into the grooves, 
then turn the machine, thus carrying the oil directly to the cams 
where it is needed. The other bearings can bj easily seen, and are 
oiled in the usual way. 

CHANGING CYLINDERS. 

We have a number of different cylinders, both coarse and fine ; 
the coarse has seventy-two and eighty-four needles, called twelve 
gauge ; and the fine, one hundred and one hundred and eight needles, 
called twenty-four gauge. To change one cylinder for the other, 
first take out the needles as before directed, lift off" the cam or revolv- 
ing cylinder K, and unscrew the yam stand B, then turn the machine 
upside down, take out the two screws that hold the cylinder L in 
place and remove it ; take the screws from the other cylinder and 
place the bed-plate of the machine upon it, being careful to have the 
screw-holes in the same places in which the others were, and see that 
the cylinder fits closely to the shoulder all around ; put in the screws 
and the other set of needles in place of those removed, and it is ready 
for use. 



22 BICKFORD FAMILY 

ANSWERS TO GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE, &c. 

We have from seventy-five to one hundred letters daily, asking us 
all manner of questions about our Knitting Machine — whether it 
will do everything represented — whether it is as good or better than 
other Knitting Machines — and will it knit a stocking or sock com- 
plete or whole — wiU it knit different sizes, and really do all the beau- 
tiful things represented — and many other questions, which of course 
are ^vritten in good faith, and if we do not take time to answer them 
the writers will say at once that the concern is a humbug. For these 
reasons I now present you this and other articles in this Book, hoping 
they will answer the most of these questions, and give you all perfect 
confidence in our machines and business. 

We also have many letters requesting us to send machines away, 
here and there on trial and for exhibition ; perhaps many to merely sat- 
isfy their curiosity. Now we are not afraid of people's disliking our 
machines if they understand them, for we can get thousands of the best 
of recommendations, and we do not know of any one that has the 
new machine and has learned to operate it, but will testify to every- 
thing we say, and you could not buy many of them at any price if 
they could not replace them with the same kind of machine. Kow if 
people will use their own good sound judgment in this as in their 
own home matters, they will see at once it would be impossible for us 
to do this, as the article is new, and there would be a great curiosity 
to merely see it if it cost only the expressage It might pay us in a 
long run, as people would remember what they had seen, and purchase 
in the future if not now; but it would require so much capital and 
so many men at the present time, that we should have to both 
slight our work and charge more for our machines ; so we have done 
the next best thing by getting good sound men into the business — 
men whose reputation is known to you all, and those who would not 
interest themselves in anything unless it was a public benefit. 

We have, also, about two hundred thousand dollars invested in 
the machines in different ways, and have one of the best manufacto- 
ries in the country, and we guarantee everything to be just as repre- 
sented, and stake our reputation upon it. That, certainly, should be 
sufficient to convince the most skeptical, and make them see that 
they run no risk whatever in sending their orders at once, and in 
doing all they can for us in talking it up to others. 



24 



BICKIFORD FAMILY 




KNITTINO MACHINE. 



25 



DESCRIPTION OF GOODS. 

I furnish Avith this description what cuts I liaA'c now ready, and 
shall add many more in my next edition, which I shall complete as 
fast as possible. 

Fig's 1 and 2 show a cape for an elderly lady. The foundation 
of this is made of the zig-zag stitch, with a narrow strip of the her- 
ring-bone stitch run all around it as shown ; then a small cord of 
different colors is laid on this strip in two rows; the bottom is finished 
with a frill of the diamond and plain stitcli together, and fringe, with 
tassel and bow on the back. 




Children's dresses can be made in any style or color, and of any 
kind of stitch and ornamentation required to suit the taste. 

Fig. 3 represents the yoke, belt, and bottom of skirt; of blue and 
black worsted ; the balance plain blue or any other color, widened 
and narrowed to shape in plain stitch, and ornamented,; with cord, 
two rows of black and one of blue. 



26 



BICKFORD FAMILY 



Fig. 4.. 




Fig's 4 and 5 represent the front and back of a jacket knit in the 
cardigan stitch, with chinchilla worsted, and trimmed with tufting 
made of white Avith black spots, in imitation of Ermine fur. This 
jacket is naiTOwed and widened to shape, and closed under the arms, 
on the shoulders, and down the back. Ladies will understand these 
things without farther explanation. 



KNITTINQ MACHINE. 



27 



FifS^ G, 




Fig's 6 and 7 represent the front and back, of child's sacquc and 
hood, made and ornamented to suit the taste. 



JPig. 7, 





Fig's 8 nnd 9 represent two styles of infants' shoes. Fig. Sis 
made of plain white zephyr, trimmed and bound with a narrow flat 
web of blue ; it is made of three pieces, closed front and back, and 
buttons at the side ; the sole is knit very thick, and bound the same 
as the rest. Fig. 9 shows one made of the tufted goods, with the 
tufis inside, ornamented with a strip of the zig-zag stitch, tui-ned 
down at the top, with cord and tassels. Shoes, slippers, etc., can be 
made for grown people as well as children, a,nd of any size or style 
to suit the taste ; they can be trimmed around the edge or top with 
tufting, making them very warm. Inner soles for boots and shoes can 
be made also very warm, and nice for people that suti'er with cold feet. 

Fig. 9. 




KNITTING MACHINE. 



29 



Ladies' and Children's Leggings are knit in an endless variety. Af- 
ter a person once understands the machine thoroughly, they will find 
that they can suit the most fastidious. 



Fig. lO. 




Jb^ig. 11. 




Fig's 10 and 11 represent children's or ladies' leggins. The body 
of Fig. 10 is made with the ornamental stitch running around, and 
ribbed at the top and bottom, with gore knit in at the side. Fig. 1 1 
shows a plain knit legging, with the side ornamented with a crotchet 
strip, cord and buttons. This is made to imitate the cloth leggin 
so much in fashion. 



so 



BICKFORD FAMILY 




Fig. 12 reprcsGTits a hood made of German worsted knit the zig- 
zag stitch, ami trimmed with a strip of tufting all around and over 
the top. We have a great many styles of hoods, and they arc all 
very nice and pritty. 

Flf?. 13. 




Skirts are made of all styles, sizes, and colors, in either plain or 
fancy stitch. 

Fig. 13 rej)resents a gored skirt narrowed down and knit together ; 
it is ornamented with colored stripes, either knit in or sewed on. It 
is better to sew them on, as you can easily remove them when you 
wish to wash the skirt. 



KNITTING MACHINE. 



31 



Fig. 14. 




Fig. U represents a glove— the hand part is knit plain ; the gaunt- 
let is knit in two pieces and joined on the back Avhere it is narrowed ; 
it is knit of two colors in the zig-zag stitch— around the wrist and top 
of the gauntlet it is trimmed with a narrow strip of tufting of two 
colors, and a bow on the back. 

No family should think of being without one of these beautiful 
Machines, as they are destined to take the place of the Loom in 
forming yarn into fabrics for almost every purpose ; so do not hesi- 
tate for a moment, but send your orders at once. 



32 



BICKFORD FAMILY 



Fig. 13. 




wool. If you wish for more elasticity than you get from the stitch, 
you can knit in a strip of rubber cord. 



Fig. 16. 




Fig. 16 represents a ladies' or gent's slipper, made of the tufting 
stitch, with the tufts inside, also trimmed around the edge with tuft- 
ing ; the rosette is made of fringe with the loops whole. 



KNITTING MACHINE. 



33 



T^ig. 17. 




Fig. 17 represents a ladies* sock or over-shoe, and they are the 
most comfortable thing a lady can have in a cod day. They can be 
made of any style or color to suit the taste. 




Fig. 18 represents a pair of ladies' Corsets knit in the common 
plain stitch, of either German worsted or common yarn. These 
must be narrowed and widened to shape, and provided with straps 
for the shoulders. 




Fig. 19 represents either a ladies' or gent's under jacket. This 
garment, as -well as all kinds of nnder-shirts, drawers, etc., arc very 
easily made to fit and suit the party intended for. 

MATERIALS, &c. 

"We have on hand a large assortment of common and fancy yarns, 
worsteds, etc., which we furnish our customers very low. 

Knitting machine oil, prepared expressly for the Bickford Machine, 
for sale at twenty-five cents per bottle, or two dollars per dozen. 

Machine needles at sixty cents per dozen. When needles arc or- 
dered by mail, the price and return postage should accompany the 
order. 

All pieces or parts of the machine can be replaced at very little 
expense, by sending the broken part to our Office, thus avoiding the 
necessity of sending the whole machine. 



KNITTINO MACHINE. 33 



e^MA ®1©KP#M©^P 



NEW IMPROVED 

FAMILY KNITTING MACHINE. 



The only practical and efficient Knitting Machine yet introduced. 

It will knits 20,000 stitches, or twenty-two inches perfect work 
per minute, and every Machine is warranted to be in perfect order, 
and to do just what is represented. 

Its operation is easily learned by the aid of full illustrated instruc- 
tions, descriptive of all parts of the machine, their use, and other 
valuable suggestions of experienced operators, so plain that a child 
can readily learn to operate them, 

I have now taken the exclusive introduction of my machines, and 
have greatly improved them, making them the most simple, durable, 
and efficient Knitting Machines in the world ; they will set up their 
own work, knit back and forward, making the most perfect hand 
stitch, carrying every knot and imperfection inside, so that not only 
all kinds of work, requiring to be knit tubular, can be made, but a 
flat web Avith selvedge on each edge. 

It narrows and widens a web from one to one hundred and eight 
needles wide; finishes the top of a sock with selvedge edge; knits 
either a square or a round heel, and closes it to the foot, and nar- 
rows off the toe complete, which no other machine will do ; it will 
also form readily all of the most intricate stitches that can be made 
by hand, thus making it a complete knitting and crocheting as well 
as circular and flat web machine combined, and this combination, and 
our splendid facilities for manufacturing, with our new style of finish- 
ing, makes it the most perfect piece of mechanism in the Avorld. 

It knits Children's Carriage Mats, Tufted Carriage and Door 
Mats, Muff's and Collars, Table and Bedspreads of cotton or Avoolen, 
with either plain or fancy stitch ; also, the most beautiful Tidies, 
Cradle Blankets, Scarfs of eight different styles ; Infant's Shirts^ 
Socks, Caps, and Hoods ; Shawls, Breakfast Capes, Jackets, Nubias, 
Hoods, Under-shirts, Drawers, Skirts, Carriage Afghans, Children's 
Afghans, Undersleeves, Sashes, Leggins, Smoking and Skating Caps, 
Suspenders, Purses, Dusters, Watch and Curtain Cords, Mittens, 



36 BICKFORD FAMILY 

Gloves, Wristers, Toilet and Lamp Mats, Covers for Curtain Tas- 
sels, Fringed Mittens ; Ladies', Gentlemen's and Children's Hose, 
Socks and Stockings, Fringes, Cords, and Tuftings for Trimmings, 
&c., Avith either plain or ribbed, close or open work of various sizes 
with either coarse or fine yarn of woolen, cotton, linen, or silk. 

They require no tension, if the yarn will hold together it can be 
knit, thereby making soft and beautiful work with the same stitch as 
hand needles, but much smoother and more even than can be made 
by the most expert hand-knitter, and the yarn not being strained can 
be ravelled out and knit over and over again fifty times if necessary. 
It also knits to old socks new heels and toes, and even 
NEW feet if required, or you can ravel them out and knit them ovex', 
or knit the old yarn into blankets, etc. 

Multiplicity of words are useless to convince the public of the util- 
ity of Sewing Machines, as you all know ; and when Dana Bick- 
ford's Improved Family Knitting Machine becomes generally 
known and introduced, people will find many uses for them never 
thought of before, making them more necessarj'', valuable, and profit- 
able than Sewing Machines, besides being such an endless source of 
amusement and pleasure- 
Hundreds are now in use in different parts of the country, giving 
general satisfaction, and they are fast winning their way to every 
household, store, and workshop. 

Those possessing the Bickford Family Knitting Machine, can earn 
from $3.00 to $8.00 per day, for they can knit anything and every- 
thing that the most ingenious lady can knit or crochet, much nicer 
and easier, in one-hundredth part of the time. Wool growers and 
farmers cannot realize but 40 or 50 cents per lb. for wool, but by 
having it converted into yarn and knit into socks or other goods a 
much larger profit can be realized by bringing the producer in direct 
contact with the consumer. 

We give personal instructions for doing all of this large variety of 
beautiful work at our salesrooms, free of charge. 

Another great advantage in this machine is the various grades of 
cylinders that fit the same machine. This obviates the necessity of 
buying a coarse and fine machine, where you wish to go from one ex- 
treme to another. (This you do not often wish to do, as one cylin- 
der will answer almost every purpose.) It is a great advantage when 
you wish for it, however, as one is easily changed for the other, and 
only costs from three to five dollars extra. 



KNITTINQ MACHINE. 37 



No more useful and entertaining present can be made to a lady, as 
she would find it a nevei'-failing source of pleasure as well as profit 

Wherever we have been on trial with other machines, we have in- 
variably won the highest encomiums, and secured the first prize 
AT EVERT FAIR at whicli wc havc exhibited. 

We make use of but few of the many testimonials that have been 
sent to us unsolicited, showing the intrinsic merits of the machine : 

East Haverhill, N. H., Dec. 8, 1868. 
Mr. Bickford : — I have one of your Knitting Machines. Mrs. 
Page bought it for me last February, and I would like to have you 
make the new improvements Mr. Hanson told me about last summer. 
I would not take fifty dollars for it if I could not get another like it ; 
and I will say more, that no money can buy it if I cannot get another. 
I am perfectly satisfied with it ; it has ten times more than paid for 
itself since I have had it, and I never have seen the time to spare it 
long enough to have it improved, and if you can just drop me a line 
as soon as you receive this, I will send it. I am a Avidow with two 
small children, and the little machine is all my support, and I can- 
not spare it but a short time. Please A\Tite me as soon as convenient, 
and direct to 

Mrs. JOSIE L. BRYANT, East Haverhill, N. H. 



South Bristol, Me., Jan. 7, 1869. 
Mr. Bickford : Respected Sir, — I have received your machine, 
and like it very much, and wish you great success in future. 
Yours respectfuUv, 

MAY E. WEBBER. 



Wilmington, Vt., Jan. 7, 1869. 
Bickford Knitting Machine Co. : Dear Sirs, — Having had in 
my family for nearly a year past a Knitting Machine of your manu- 
facture, I take pleasure 'in stating that it is a great favorite with us ; 
and after having made trial of the Lamb Knitting Machine to test the 
comparative excellence of the two, pronounce, without hesitation, in 
favor of the Bickford Machine. It takes up little room, runs with 
perfect ease, makes a greater variety of work, is much less liable to 
drop stitches and break yam, and ^vith all, costs only about half the 
amount of the " Lamb Machine." You are at liberty to make what 
use you deem expedient of the above statements. 
Yours trulv, 

N. W. WILDER, Pastor M. E. Church. 



88 BICKFORD FAMIY KNITTINO MACHINE. 



LIST OF PRICES OF THE BICKFORD MACHINE, 



— ♦♦■ 



No. 1 is the regular Family Machine with all late improvements 

and the common Coarse Cylinder, ^ - - - - $25.00 
No. 2 is the regular Family Machine with all late improvements 

with the Fine Cylinder, - - 28.00 

No. 3, the Family Machine, with both Coarse and Fine Cyl- 
inders, ---------- 30.00 

No. 4 Machine with both Cylinders, nicely plated with Silver, 40.00 
No. 5 the same, finished in Gold and Silver Plate, - - 45.00 
This machine is made to be attached to any table or stand ; still, 
we furnish Tables and Cabinets anywhere from $8 to $50. 

The following articles accompany each machine, viz : Bobbin- 
winder, three bobbins, swift, oiler, six extra needles, and full printed 
instructions, by which any one can readily learn to operate the ma- 
chines. A screw-driver goes with the extra cylinders. 

To save expense for collections, or mistakes, where parties live at 
a distance, they should send a check, draft, post-oflSce order, or the 
money, with address, directions, etc., plain and distinct. We do send 
machines short distances C. O. D., but when they are to go a long 
distance in this way, at least ten per cent, of the price must accom- 
pany the order. 

Efficient and reliable Agents wanted in every section of the coun- 
try, with whom the most liberal terms will be made. 
All orders and communications must be addressed to 

DANA BICKFORD, 

Vice Preset and General Agent. 

OFFICE AND SALESROOMS, 

S72 AND S74 BROADWAY, N. Y., 

(Metropolitan Hotel Building.) 



^^ uh CONGRESS 
"III 




.i$56 



LIBRARY OFC»NGRESS 




Q00lB3blQ'75 • 



